Teachers Angela Bell
(Associate Principal and Lead Teacher)
Catherine
Pittams
(GKP Teacher)
Madelaine
Armstrong- Willcocks
(GKP Teacher )
History TheWaikowhai Gifted
Kids Unit is hosted by Waikowhai Intermediate
School and opened in Term 2, 2002. Contributing
Schools Balmoral SDA
Cornwell Park School
Epsom Normal School
Good Shepherd School
Hay Park School
St Therese School
Waikowhai Intermediate
Waterlea School
Wesley School
Challenge Time
The
Waikowhai classes became totally
immersed in The Great
Sand and Rice Separator technology
challenge.
They
were required to find a successful
way of separating a sand and rice
mixture - a task with many real-life
applications – using only
a sheet of corrugated card, 4
straws, a polystyrene cup, 2 pieces
of paper and a plastic bag.
Who would have thought that
there were so many ways of accomplishing
this feat with such limited
materials and with an 85% or
higher separation rate!
Sebastian and Braden carefully
check their filtering system.
Charlie,
Alex, Selena and Vanessa become
concerned about the rate of separation.
Time for another strategy!
Postal
Predicament
Trying
to predict the vagaries of the
NZ postal system was an important
component in the Post A Pringle
challenge.
Keen
GKPers constructed boxes that
would safely transport a pringle
chip from the post office to
their individual homes. Victor
carefully crafts his Pringle
receptacle.
The
designs were amazingly varied
and brought a smile to the postal
worker’s face when posted!
Not a lot made it to their destinations
in one piece and children were
quick to realise the flaws in
their designs. They are very keen
to try a similar challenge again
now they have a better understanding
of what works and what doesn’t!
Marina
strives for precision in her
Pringle refuge
Imaging Me
Students
created a multi-media image of
themselves, using colour, shapes,
images, words, reflections, thoughts,
and 3d elements. This was related
to the Affective Development aspect
of the GKP curriculum and was
aimed at helping students clarify
their understandings of themselves
and others in relation to their
giftedness.
Hamish
has a strong interest in World
War 1 and 2, so used this as his
central theme. He re-created a
landing scene from Normandy in
1944, complete with planes, tanks,
and landing strips, colour coded
to reflect respective positions.
Hamish
focused on finding humour
and persisting in creating
this image
Georgina created a striking
visual image complete with inspirational
quotes. Her buddy quite rightly
said “It screams creativity
and imagination.”…
Georgina focused on creating,
imagining and innovating in
creating this image.
